A Translational Evaluation of Efficacy and Preference for Isolated and Synthesized Contingency Procedures
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Abstract
Conducting a functional analysis (FA) enables effective treatment for challenging behaviors by identifying the contingencies that maintain behavior (Fisher et al., 2016). Methodology for FAs range from the traditional isolatated FA and more recently, the synthesized contingency analysis (SCA) (Hanley et al., 2014; Iwata et al., 1982/1984). Research has focused on comparisons of both methodologies; however, preference for interventions based in these assessments have not been evaluted. Importantly, recipients of behavior-analytic interventions as well as behavior-change agents (e.g., caregivers) should both be involved in the social validation process and preference for interventions should be considered (Hanley, 2010). The current study is a systematic replication and extension of previous research in this area using a translational evaluation of the traditional isolated FA and SCA (Retzlaff et al., 2020). Participants will be children at a local lab based school. Graduate students in a behavior analysis program will participate as caregiveres by proxy. Child participants will be taught to engage in an arbitrary response (e.g., touching a cushion) to gain access to preferred items, escape from demands, or attention. Touching the cushion will serve as a surrogate destructive behavior. Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) for surrogate desctructive behavior will be implemented based on FA results. All reinforcers (SCA) or one reinforcer (isolated FA) will be delivered contingent on the alternative behavior (e.g., vocal request). Both child preference and caregiver by proxy preference for DRA will be evaluated. Additionally, caregiver by proxy preference for treatment will be compared to traditional treatment acceptability ratings.
